Light Bulb Changing Tool

ABSTRACT

A light bulb carrying device is provided for transporting light bulbs to a fixture for installation. Locations for attachment of light bulbs allow the bulbs to be worn on the user&#39;s body for access to a light fixture without the need for occupying the user&#39;s hands in carrying the light bulbs during transportation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/341,759, filed Jan. 27, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/648,034, filed Jan. 28, 2005, thecontents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for assisting a user in changing alight bulb. When changing a light bulb, the person must take a new bulbto the fixture and then open the fixture, remove the old bulb, insertthe new bulb and close the fixture. When done on ceiling fixtures, theprocess of climbing up and down the ladder is often repeated three timesor a second person is necessary to assist the person changing the bulb.Light bulbs are typically round and roll off the top of ladders. Thebulbs can be expensive and when dropped on a hard surface, they canbreak into many small pieces.

Safety is always a major concern when climbing to reach light fixtures.Some light fixtures may require tall ladders to reach them. Injuries toworkers can cause large damages to company profits. During climbing, itwould be safer to have the installer's hands free to hold the ladder orother objects. When carrying a light bulb to the fixture, there isincreased danger in the task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a portable light bulb holder that may be worn onthe user's body. It can allow storage of new and old bulbs during theinstallation and transportation to the light fixture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention being wornon a user's wrist.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view of an embodiment of the invention having twobulb holders.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention having two bulbholders.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention having two bulbholders.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention being wornon a user's waist.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention being wornon a user's chest.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention being wornon a user's thigh.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an embodiment of an alternate embodimentfor fluorescent light bulbs worn on a user's back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiment shown in the figures is a simple version thathas proven to be efficient and effective. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2,FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, a vinyl body 1 of approximately six inches in lengthis shown attached to the user's wrist and hand with elastic straps 3. Onthe opposite surface of the vinyl body 1, the device provides two lightbulb holders 2. The prototype embodiment utilizes metal strappingmaterial to form spring loaded clips to hold a typical incandescentlight bulb for home usage. A preferred model would utilize a plasticmaterial to hold the light bulb or light bulbs.

The embodiment shown in the figures could be made using readilyavailable materials that cost very little. A model manufactured in largequantities using plastic construction would cost only pennies.

The device would provide at least one light bulb holder, typically two,but many holders would be helpful, especially for fixtures with manybulbs such as a chandelier. The two bulb unit would allow the user tostart the installation with one holder empty and one holder loaded witha new light bulb. The user would go to the fixture, possibly by climbinga ladder, and have both hands free to open the fixture, if necessary.The process would then allow the user to remove the old light bulb andplace it into the empty holder on the unit. The user would then retrievethe new light bulb from the device and install it. The user would thenbe able to close the fixture, if necessary, and complete theinstallation. For users changing large numbers of bulbs, a bandolier oflight bulbs could be provided to be worn around the body.

The bulb holder shown is a metal clip to hold the threads of anincandescent bulb by a compression fitting. Many types of bulb holdersare known, including mounting light fixture sockets to the device forthreading bulbs into the device. This may require additional effort toscrew the bulbs into the device, so other compression fittings could beprovided where the bulbs could be pushed into the holder and pulled out.This may be by prongs that hold the threaded end, or the bulb end, or bysimple sockets with retaining devices or rings.

Ideally, the device could be suited for placement on a flat surface forloading and removing bulbs, or for holding the device on a ladder orwork surface. Additional accessories may be provided to attach thedevice to a ladder or work surface during installation and transporting.

Other embodiments may include models worn around the user's neck. Thiswould provide quick access to both hands. To eliminate undesirableswinging of the unit, the device could be worn around the user's chestor waist, clipped to a shirt or jacket, worn around the body as a sash,as a belt, or belt clip, or wrapped around the user's shoulders, similarto a backpack worn in the front. Other models may be strapped to theuser's forearm, upper arm, thigh, head, or other parts of the body.

Various models could be designed to fit a variety of bulbs as needed.The typical unit would be for standard incandescent or compactfluorescent bulbs for home and office fixtures. Fluorescent tubes couldbe accommodated, as well as larger bulbs for street lights, industriallighting, halogen, mercury vapor, or any other light bulb product.Different sizes of the light bulb holders 2 could be provided toaccommodate different light bulb sizes and types.

As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, it may be preferable to the userto attach the device to the user's waist, chest, or leg, depending onthe circumstances, and the light bulb needed. Other embodiments may bedesirable. An embodiment could similarly be attached to the user's belt.Buckles may also be provided to allow quick attachment and removal ofthe device.

As shown in FIG. 8, the device may be larger to accommodate larger lightbulbs. Fluorescent bulb tubes are common in office buildings at aroundfour feet in length and can be found to be eight feet in length or evenlonger. The attachment straps 3 may be made to wrap around larger partsof the user's body. To allow for fluorescent bulb tubes and other lightbulbs, the light bulb holders 2 may be provided with a grippingmaterial, such as a rubber material, to prevent slippage, or sliding ofthe light bulb.

Because of the low cost of manufacturing the device, it may be possibleto give them away as promotional items for companies. The body of thedevice has areas that would be capable of displaying company promotionalmaterial.

The device may also incorporate storage areas for holding tools orparts. Commonly, light fixtures include small screws for attachment oflight covers. The device may provide a pouch, a storage area, or amagnetic attachment for holding these screws. Additionally, screwdriversor other tools may be used, and the device may incorporate a clip ordevice to hold the tools during installation.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art, thatthe present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application inchanging light bulbs. Many embodiments and adaptations of the presentinvention, other than those described, as well as many variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from orreasonably suggested by the present invention and foregoing descriptionthereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.

While the foregoing description illustrates and describes exemplaryembodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the construction and design disclosed herein. Theinvention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe true invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light bulb holder comprising: a main body;attachment straps for attaching the main body to a user; a firstgenerally c-shaped retaining member attached to the main body forcontacting and securely engaging, in a carrying position, a first lightbulb to be installed in a light fixture; and a second generally c-shapedretaining member placed next to the first generally c-shaped retainingmember and attached to the main body for contacting and securelyengaging, in a carrying position, a second light bulb currentlyinstalled in the light fixture and to be replaced by the first lightbulb, wherein the user wears the light bulb holder during transportationfor replacing the second light bulb with the first light bulb in thelight fixture, without having to use either hand to carry either thefirst light bulb or the second light bulb during transportation.
 2. Thelight bulb holder according to claim 1, further comprising storage areasfor holding one or more of tools and parts for replacing the secondlight bulb with the first light bulb.
 3. The light bulb holder accordingto claim 2, wherein the storage areas include a pouch for storingscrews.
 4. The light bulb holder according to claim 2, wherein thestorage areas include a magnetic attachment for holding screws.
 5. Thelight bulb holder according to claim 2, wherein the storage areasinclude a clip to hold screwdrivers during installation.
 6. The lightbulb holder according to claim 1, wherein the first light bulb is areplacement light bulb, and the second light bulb is a used light bulbto be replaced by the new light bulb, and wherein when the light fixtureneeds a replacement light bulb, the second generally c-shaped retainingmember is left empty to receive the used light bulb.
 7. The light bulbholder according to claim 1, wherein the first light bulb and the secondlight bulb are incandescent bulbs, and the light bulb holder furthercomprising a metal clip that holds threads of the incandescent bulbs bya compression fitting.
 8. The light bulb holder according to claim 1,further comprising sockets for threading the first light bulb and thesecond light bulb into the main body.
 9. The light bulb holder accordingto claim 1, wherein the first and second generally c-shaped retainingmembers securely engage the first light bulb and the second bulb usingcompression fittings.
 10. The light bulb holder according to claim 1,further comprising accessories to attach the main body to a ladder orwork surface during installation and transportation.
 11. The light bulbholder according to claim 1, wherein the attachment straps enable themain body to be worn around one or more of the user's neck, chest,waist, and body.
 12. The light bulb holder according to claim 1, whereinthe attachment straps enable the main body to be clipped to a shirt or ajacket.
 13. The light bulb holder according to claim 1, wherein theattachment straps enable the main body to be wrapped around the user'sshoulders like a backpack.
 14. The light bulb holder according to claim1, wherein the attachment straps enable the main body to be strapped toone or more of the user's forearm, upper arm, thigh, head, and otherparts of the body.
 15. The light bulb holder according to claim 1,wherein the wherein the first and second generally c-shaped retainingmembers are large enough to accommodate large light bulbs in officebuildings at more than four feet in length.
 16. A light bulb holdercomprising: attachment straps for attaching a main body to a user; andat least two generally c-shaped retaining members attached to the mainbody for biasing against and securely engaging, in a carrying position,at least one light bulb, wherein the at least two generally c-shapedretaining members comprises a first generally c-shaped retaining memberfor engaging a first light bulb to be installed in a light fixture and asecond generally c-shaped retaining member placed next to the bulbholder for engaging a second light bulb already installed in the lightfixture and to be replaced by the first light bulb, wherein the at leasttwo generally c-shaped retaining members each further comprises firstand second retaining arms, wherein the first and second retaining armsare fixedly attached to the main body and extend away from the mainbody, wherein the user wears the light bulb holder during transportationfor replacing the second light bulb with the first light bulb in thelight fixture, without having to use either hand to carry either thefirst light bulb or the second light bulb during transportation.
 17. Thelight bulb holder according to claim 16, wherein the first and secondretaining arms comprise a first section fixedly connected to the mainbody and arcing in a generally c-shape and a second section curving backgenerally parallel with the first section toward the main body, suchthat the arc of the second section forms an opening for biasing againstand securely engaging the at least one light bulb.
 18. The light bulbholder according to claim 16, further comprising storage areas forholding one or more of tools and parts for replacing the second lightbulb with the first light bulb.
 19. The light bulb holder according toclaim 16, further comprising accessories to attach the main body to aladder or work surface during installation and transportation.
 20. Alight bulb holder comprising: a main body; attachment straps forattaching the main body to a user; at least two generally c-shapedretaining members attached to the main body for biasing against andsecurely engaging, in a carrying position, at least one light bulb, theat least two generally c-shaped retaining members comprising a firstgenerally c-shaped retaining member for engaging a first light bulb tobe installed in a light fixture and a second generally c-shapedretaining member placed next to the first generally c-shaped retainingmember for engaging a second light bulb currently installed in the lightfixture and to be replaced by the first light bulb, the at least twogenerally c-shaped retaining members each further comprising first andsecond retaining arms, wherein the first and second retaining arms arefixedly attached to the main body and extend away from the main body;and accessories to attach the main body to a ladder or work surfaceduring installation and transportation, wherein the user wears the lightbulb holder during transportation for replacing the second light bulbwith the first light bulb in the light fixture, without having to useeither hand to carry either the first light bulb or the second lightbulb during transportation.